NTSB Identification: CEN12LA515
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 02, 2012 in Houston, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/05/2013
Aircraft: BEECH E-55, registration: N3644A
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot aborted the takeoff in the twin-engine airplane due to a rough running engine. The airplane exited the end of the runway and struck an embankment. Postaccident examination and testing of the airplane’s left engine revealed damage to the ignition harness and rough operation during a test run. Replacement of the worn harness resulted in normal operation during a second test run. Based on the available information, it is likely that the airplane's left engine experienced a partial loss of power due to the damaged ignition harness. The reason for the damaged ignition harness could not be determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A damaged ignition harness, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
On August 2, 2012, about 1028 central daylight time, a Beech E-55, N3644A, sustained substantial damage when it struck a road embankment following an aborted takeoff after a loss of engine power on the left engine at the West Houston Airport, Houston, Texas. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that during the initial portion of the takeoff, the engines accelerated smoothly and the systems and gauges indicated normal operation. As the airplane accelerated the pilot noticed a roughness in performance and verified that the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls for both engines were forward. Due to the roughness and a perceived loss of engine power on one engine, the pilot aborted the takeoff. There was insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane and it went off the end of the runway and struck an embankment that bordered the airport perimeter road.
Postaccident examination of the airplanes left engine revealed damage to two of the six spark plug leads. The engine was mounted on a test stand and during a subsequent test run the engine exhibited rough operation. The damaged ignition harness was replaced with the harness from the right engine and the test run repeated. During the second test run the engine started immediately and ran through various power settings with no hesitations, stumbling or interruptions in power. The reason for the damage to the ignition harness could not be determined. The most recent annual inspection of the airplane was completed on July 16, 2012.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA515
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 02, 2012 in Houston, TX
Aircraft: BEECH E-55, registration: N3644A
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 2, 2012, about 1028 central daylight time, a Beech E-55, N3644A, sustained substantial damage when it struck a road embankment following an aborted takeoff after a loss of engine power on the left engine. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3644A Make/Model: BE55 Description: 55 Baron (T-42 Cochise, C-55, E-20)
Date: 08/02/2012 Time: 1528
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: HOUSTON State: TX Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ABORTED ITS TAKEOFF RUN AND SLID OFF THE RUNWAY. HOUSTON, TX
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: HOUSTON, TX (SW09) Entry date: 08/03/2012
A small, private plane ran off the runway at West Houston Airport in west Harris county late Thursday morning. The twin-engine propeller plane rolled from the tarmac about 10:30 a.m. at the airport near Groschke and Barker Cypress, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said no injuries were reported. It was unclear what led to the mishap, deputies added.
HOUSTON - A small plane crashed and slammed into a sign near a northwest Harris County airport Thursday.
The two-engine plane crashed near a runway at the West Houston Airport on Groeschke Road at Barker Cypress shortly before 11 a.m.
Officials said the pilot was trying to take off, but could not get the aircraft off the ground. It ran off the runway, across a street and crashed into a left-turn road sign.
The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The cause is under investigation.
